San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-09
A PASSING CLOUD.
How the Course of True Love was Final
ly Made to Run Very Smoothly.

II dld not forget" answered Val,
scorning to make an excuse.
q. "No?" in some surprise. II suppose
something detained you then. l will
forgive you this time, but don't know
that | shall be so lenient again" and
he smiled tenderly down on her. To
his dismay it won no response.
Val had not yet recovered from the
unpleasant shock her feelings had re-
ceived, but she was too angry, too puz-
zled to clearly define her thoughts; she
was chiefly conscious of an intense hat
red and jealousy of Mrs. Maitland. 1t
was scarcely wonderful that she should
be silent and distracted during dinner,
but the party was too large and too an
mated for this to be noticed save by
two of its members.
"Dalrymple," said Sir Harry March
mont, claiming that gentleman's atten-
ton, 81 was introduced to-day to a
brother of yours. Did you know he was
in these parts?"
sMy brother Hubert. suppose? /
remember now his telling me he was
going to stay with some friends of his,
the Sinclairs, but did not know their
place was near here"
"Ony half an hours drive" returned
Sir Harry. "He's a confoundedly
handsome fellow-I should say great
favorite with the fair sex. 1aSked him
over to breakfast tomorrow and to
spend the day. He told me he had not
yet made the acquaintance of his future
sister-in-law.
"No, to be sure. Hubert is the only
one of us you don't know" said Yer
non, turning to Val. II think you will
like him. He's an awfully good-na-
tured fellow, little spoilt, perhaps, but
according to Sir Harry, that is hardly
to be wondered at"
When the gentlemen returned to the
drawing-room, Dalrymple made his
way at once to Val, who was sitting
somewhat apart, and, bending over her,
said in low tone:
"What is amiss with you, dear? You
do not seem yourself this evening""
Come out on the terrace" she said,
rising impetuously. IL want to speak
to you"
He followed her obediently, and,
when they were beyond sight or hear
ing of any one, said gently:
well, what is troubling you, dear"
what is there between you and Mrs.
Maitland?" asked Val, fixing her clear
glance on him, as she abruptly plunged
IN n,edids res.
"What is there between Mrs. Matt
land and me?" he repeated slowly.
my dear Val, don't understand
you"
"And don't understand YOU" holly
responded the young lady. "YOu can
not deny, Vernon, that when you met
Mrs. Maitland you looked very-very
taken aback."
~ have no wish to deny anything,
Val" he answered.: sit is true l was
somewhat surprised to see Mrs. Malt
land"
"But why should you be more sur
prised to see her than any other &C
quaintance?"
"My dear VAL" he said, half playful
ly, ''you are surely not going to quarrel
with me on account of Mrs. Maitland.
! did not think you were given to jeal-
"Jealousy!" repeated Val, giving full
vent to her disturbed feelings. II have
right to be jealous, think, when /
see another woman whom do not even
know to be acquainted with you hold
ing an interview with you Of apparent
ly a most intimate nature.
II see," he said, after moments
pause, shat you have more cause for
annoyance than 1 imagined. If i can
not give you very full explanation OF
what am aware must appear strange
in your eyes, am sure your confidence
in me win enable you to accept without
hesitation what am going to say. i
have known Mrs. Maitland for years,
and she wished to speak to me alone
on a matter that concerns herself"
"And it was necessary to the commu-
nication that she should hold her
handsp" asked Val, sarcastically.
II see what is in your mind, Val, !" he
answered quietly, .but ! can hardly be
lieve that you can mistrust me thus
that you can wrong yourself and insult
me by such suspicious. Were l free tt
do so, would willingly explain all, but
unfortunately, am not"
because you have promised her moi
to do 30, l SUPPOSED" returned Val, bel
eyes flashing: land a promise to hel
is to rank before consideration for nv